The last light, World War One 1914 - 2014

Lights went out all over the UK on the night of August 4th 2014 as people came together to commemorate the exact moment that the country entered the First World War, one hundred years before.  Big Ben and the Blackpool Tower were among the landmarks plunged into darkness as millions marked the centenary of a war that claimed millions of lives.  And the last light to go out was a small candle placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior that flickered in the gathering gloom of Westminster Abbey and which was extinguished in a symbolic gesture by the Duchess of Cornwall.

As four soldiers from each of the nations of the United Kingdom stood watch at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, the duchess stepped forward to put out this final flame. Exactly one hundred years after the start of the conflict, the country was bathed in darkness - but with one flicker of hope.  The Pascal Candle remained alight and a flame will burn in Westminster Abbey all the time from that historic moment until November 11th 2018 when it will be a century since the end of the 'war to end all wars'.

The flame put out by the Duchess of Cornwall one hundred years on from the exact moment that Britain entered World War One at 11pm on August 4th 2014

At the ceremony, there were readings from both religious and non religious texts about war, peace and above all, light in the darkness.  And the gesture of the Duchess of Cornwall was the last act of a day of commemorations that brought millions together to remember, one hundred years on.

One prince in ten million footsteps - World War One 1914 - 2014

Prince Harry has walked in the footsteps of ten million men during the commemorations marking the centenary of World War One.  The prince was in Folkestone to unveil the World War One Memorial Arch which stands over the part of the town where soldiers came to embark on the boats and ships that would carry them to war.

Prince Harry at the dedication of the World War One Memorial Arch on August 4th 2014

Ten million troops went to war from Folkestone.  The views of the town, the last they had of England for many months or years, are now framed by the arch which was dedicated by the prince and which stands as the newest memorial to this now century old conflict.  Prince Harry also laid a wreath at the town's war memorial and joined in an act of remembrance for those who died.  

The prince would later make his own journey from Britain to Belgium to join commemorations there.  But the start of this centenary day saw a royal soldier walking in the footsteps of ten million other military men and women and showing his pride and gratitude as he remembered.